Etiwanda wide receiver Geordon Porter one to watch this season

As the prep football season fast approaches, I thought it might be good to take a look at some of the players sure to do great things the coming season. One of those is senior wide receiver Geordon Porter of Etiwanda.

Porter currently has 15 offers and has narrowed his list to seven schools. He has planned visits to Utah (Sept. 2), Notre Dame (Sept. 9) and Arizona State (Sept. 16). Four other schools – Alabama, Cal, Colorado and UCLA – are still in play.

He had quite the smorgasbord to chose from. Others offering included Purdue, UNLV, Washington State, Hawaii, Georgia, San Jose State, Colorado State, UNLV  and Duke.

The 6-foot-2, 172-pounder had a decent season as a junior with 33 catches for 512 yards and five touchdowns. He came up big in a 45-42 win the last game of the regular season against Damien which got his team into the playoffs.

Etiwanda coach Kevin Davis said interest in his speedster picked up in the spring after he ran 10.6 in the 100 during a spring track meet. A couple of offers quickly turned into more than a dozen.

“He was on the radar before that,” Davis said “But when schools saw that the interest really did pick up in a big way. He is really ready to have a huge season,.”

Porter’s potential is not surprising given his genes. Father George was  a track standout at USC. Older brother Grant, who graduated from Upland in 2016, red-shirted last year at Washington State and is looking to be a factor for the Cougars this year at defensive back.

Porter says he learned a lot from watching his brother go through the recruiting process.

“It can be a lot of fun but at times it is stressful too,” he said. “You have to find the school that is the right fit and there are lot of things to consider – what offense it runs, how soon you thing you can play, what school fits you best academically.”

Davis said while Porter’s biggest contributions will come on offense, he night also be used on defense as well as on special teams.

“He makes things happen so we definitely have to get the ball in his hands,” Davis said.

Porter and the Eagles make their debut on Aug. 25 against Summit in their annual rivalry game at Miller high School.

 

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Etiwanda lineman Alec Anderson commits to Washington State

Perhaps no major college recruit was more prepared for the recruiting process than Etiwanda offensive lineman Alec Anderson. He has three older siblings who went

through the process. Father Anders Anderson was the girls basketball coach at Etiwanda and he had many players from that program move on to the next level.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle recently committed to Washington State, picking that school from among 10 offers.

He and his father  visited Washington State, Arizona State and Oregon State.

“I liked that it is in a smaller city away from other distractions,” he said. “Just walking around campus I got a positive vibe and all the players and coaches were very uplifting.”

Anderson said he got a chance to speak with a lot of players who had nothing but good things to say about their experiences.

Anderson plans to major in criminal justice. In addition to the schools he visited, offers came from Utah, Colorado State, Colorado, UNLV, New Mexico, Hawaii and San Jose State.

Oldest sister Ashtyn played basketball at NCAA Division II Chico State before her career was derailed by multiple knee injuries. Another sister Alyssa is entering her junior year at UNLV where she too plays basketball.

Brother Aidan will be sophomore at the University of Regina (Canada)  where he played football.

“Each one raised the bar higher than the other,” Alex said of his successful siblings. “I have definitely benefited from the experiences each one of them has had.”

Anderson has worked hard in preparation for his senior season, adding 60 or so pounds to his 6-5 frame.

He and his Eagle teammates open the season on Aug. 25 with the rivalry game against Summit at Miller High School.

 

 

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Etiwanda’s Nate Neal to sign with UNLV on Wednesday

Etiwanda football standout Nate Neal has made a verbal commitment to UNLV.

He visited the school in December and liked everything it had to offer, not just when it came to the football program but in academics as well. He plans to major in criminal justice.

“I was looking for a place where the head coach was also defensive minded,” he said. “And he (UNLV coach Tony Sanchez) was a defensive coordinator. I liked the whole staff. Once I I started talking with them it was more like I was talking to my uncle than a coach.”

Neal, a 6-foot-3 defensive end and tight end, didn’t make any other visits although San Jose State, Montana State and Sacramento State were interested.

Neal had made a couple of trips to Washington in an informal capacity to visit brother Michael who is part of the Huskies program although missed this season due to injury.

Neal recorded 47 tackles, 11 of those for loss this season for the Eagles. He also had seven sacks and a forced fumble.

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Etiwanda defender Andre Grayson makes commitment to Utah State

Etiwanda High School’s Andre Grayson hasn’t visited Utah State just yet but he has had such good conversations with members of the coaching staff and developed such a rapport that he has committed to that school any way.

The 5-foot-9, 155-pound defensive back was also being recruited by San Jose State, New Mexico and Air Force, among others, but he never made an official visit.

Grayson“They have been recruiting me the most all along and I really felt the love,” he said. “It felt like a good fit and I think I can go in and play right away.”

Grayson recorded 48 total tackles with four interceptions, six passes defended, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He started his high school career at Rancho Cucamonga but transferred to Etiwanda the second semester of his freshman year. He started four games for the Eagles as a sophomore.

He was a second-team All-Baseline League selection the past season, helping the Eagles to a post-season berth and first round upset win over Valencia.

Grayson plans to major in education in hope of becoming a teacher,

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Etiwanda pulls off huge rally in win over Damien

It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for the Etiwanda Eagles, which makes their performance against Damien tonight even more noteworthy. Coach Kevin Davis’ team went into the game with a 3-6 record and 1-3 in the Baseline  League.

Damien went in a stellar 6-3 and was really the only team that put up much of a fight against mighty Rancho Cucamonga.

Davis was still convinced that a win over Damien would get his team into the playoffs and harped on that all week to his team. A win would mean the teams tied in the league standings but Etiwanda would have the head-to-head.

Well it wasn’t looking so good for Etiwanda which trailed 42-16 going into the fourth quarter. It wasn’t until  several minutes later that the rally even started.

Davis said his team recovered two onside kicks and jumped on a Damien fumble which helped keep the ball rolling.

He credited running back Kasmir Dina and quarterback Tommy McDonnell for igniting the rally. Dina has seen a lot of playing time in place of the injured Lawrence Starks who has been out with a high ankle sprain.

McDonnell has been the starter much of the year but was on in relief of Justin Hamel.

The comeback was complete with a 7-yard slant pass from McDonnell to Geordon Porter with under a minute left.

Etiwanda 46, Damien 42

The teams are both in Division 4 which means Etiwanda would likely have to be taken ahead of Damien despite the worse overall record and Davis said there are other teams with worse records than his.

“It has to be one of the biggest wins we have ever had here,” Davis said. “I can’t even explain it. We’ll remember this one for a long time.”

Davis is the head coach but he also serves as the offensive coordinator. He decided to call the game from the press box which he has always done as an offensive coordinator but never as the head coach.

“I just thought I needed to do that to give us the best chance to win,” he said.

We’ll have to wait until Sunday to see just how that outcome affects the playoff draw. But it sure has sent a buzz through the Inland Valley tonight.

Etiwanda was 3-7 last year in the first year of the Davis tenure. It was still looking for a signature win. Well it is looking no longer.

 

 

 

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Etiwanda loses startting quarterback to concussion

Etiwanda quarterback Tommy McDonnell is picked up and tackled by Summit defense at Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA., Friday, August 26, 2016. (Staff photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Etiwanda junior quarterback Tommy McDonnell sustained a concussion late in the first half of Friday’s 22-14 loss to Summit and will have to miss this week’s game against Redlands East Valley because of concussion protocol.

The starting nod will go to Justin Hamel, also a junior.

The Eagles are not in panic mode however. McDonnell and Hamel battled for the starting spot, sharing the reps in the spring and summer. So Hamel is prepared to step in.

Etiwanda coach Kevin Davis said it is unlike last year when he lost his starter to a concussion, then had to scramble because the second option was a distant second best at that position.

“Those guys battled for that position all the way so they both came into the season prepared. It was like we had a 1A and a 1B,” he said. “We feel confident with either of them at that position.”

 

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Etiwanda football team enters season in rebuilding mode

The Etiwanda football team was in transition last under first year head coach Kevin Davis and the Eagles dealt with the expecting growing pains in finishing 3-7.

Well the Eagles graduated 29 players so they’re still going to be a team in transition. Making matters a little more difficult, Etiwanda opens its season on Friday against a Summit team that went 10-0 in the regular season a year ago.

“We’re young, both in terms of age and experience,” Davis said. “We have some good young players but we’re young and untested.”

Davis said the bright spot so far, although there has yet to be a snap in the regular season, has been the running back core led by junior Lawrence Starks who saw playing time last year as a sophomore on varsity.

Others who will contribute there include junior A.J. Williams and senior Kasmir Dina, neither of whom played last season.

“Those guys all have looked good,” Davis said. “We’re going to need all of them so that was a positive sign.”

The quarterback nod has gone to junior Tommy McDonnell, who won a tough competition with senior Justin Hamel, with whom he split time on the junior varsity last season.

The group looking to pave the way for those athletes is led by senior left tackle Chris Bradberry, junior right tackle Alec Anderson and senior right guard Ryan Hanson.

The receiving core is led by senior Evan Gutierrez. Davis also got a transfer in Geordan Porter,  who came over from Upland and is younger brother for Upland graduate Grant Porter.

The Eagles inexperience shows up more on defense where the long players with any experience are senior defensive end Nate Neal,  senior lineman Kyle Edwards and junior corner Andre Grayson.

Davis is also high on newcomers senior linebacker Connor Sweeney and senior defensive back L.J. Bailey, both up from the junior varsity.

“We have a tough schedule so we’re going to have to grow up quickly,” Davis said. “We don’t have any easy games. Hopefully by the time we get to league play we’ll be ready.”

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Etiwanda quarterback Andrew Kanatsky picks a college

Etiwanda High School quarterback Andrew Kanatsky has signed with NCAA Division II Malone University (Canton, Ohio).

He visited the school six or so weeks ago and liked what he saw in the small, private school with an enrollment of about 3,000. The Pioneers play at Hall of Fame Stadium adjacent to the NFL Football Hall of Fame.

“It’s a smaller school so I don’t think there will be distractions and I liked the atmosphere,” said Kanatsky, the Eagles starter the last two years. “They run the triple read option and that’s similar to what I ran here so I think it will be a good fit.”

Malone offered early but Kanatsky didn’t think it was quite enough of an offer to be able to make the move across the country. He was sold on a going to a community college but then Malone bettered the offer making the school more affordable.

He said the Pioneers have two quarterbacks but one is a senior and the school is bringing in three so he hopes to compete for playing time right away.

“They told me there will be open competition for the job so I’m excited about the chance,” he said.

Kanatsky threw for 2,056 yards (228.2 avg) with 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He was a first-team All-Baseline League selection.

The Pioneers went 0-10 last year but compete in a strong conference in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference.

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A Signing Day list of who is going where

Etiwanda football players Treyjohn Butler (Stanford), Billy Carter (Arizona Christian), Kendall Greer (Northern Arizona) and Kamari Pleasant (Washington).

FOOTBALL

Damian Alloway, Summit, UCLA
Treyjohn Butler, Etiwanda, Stanford
Cohl Cabral, Los Osos, Arizona State
Billy Carter, Etiwanda, Arizona Christian
Jordan Charles, Ayala, University of San Diego
Andrew Davis, Upland, Dixie State
Mike Dean, Chaffey, Idaho State
Khalil Dorsey, Colony, Northern Arizona
Josiah Erickson, San Dimas, Sacramento State
Kelon Ferdinand, Upland, Colorado-Mesa
Isaiah Flowers, Ayala, Western New Mexico
Marquise Green, Carter, San Jose State
Kendall Greer, Etiwanda, Northern Arizona
Brent Hernandez, Carter, Western New Mexico
Freddy Livai, Miller, Brigham Young
Aaron Manning, Rancho Cucamonga, Northern Arizona
Shey Newton, Webb, University of San Diego
Mauriyon O’Brien, Ganesha, Dixie State
Kamari Pleasant, Etiwanda, Washington
Grant Porter, Upland, Washington State
Cameron Record, Damien, University of San Diego
Liam Ryan, Damien, Washington State
Jason Smith, Carter, University of Redlands
Cade Sparks, Summit, Indiana State
Marcus Strong, Carter, Washington State
Dylan Thigpen, Damien, Idaho
Josh Thompson, Colony, Dixie State
Leni Toailoa, Carter, UCLA
Lokeni Toailoa, Carter, UCLA
Mason Vega, Los Osos, Portland State
Jabari Watson, Summit, Boise State

GIRLS SOCCER
Julia Bingham, St. Lucy’s USC
Danika Bowman, Redlands East Valley, BYU
Madison Burke, Redlands, Chico State
Alyssa Carthan, Chino Hills, Sacramento State
Khatelan Casilan, Rancho Cucamonga, Alabama A&M
Skylar Cleveland, Grand Terrace, UNLV
Katelynn DeVille, Rancho Cucamonga, Simpson University
Metztli Gonzalez, Etiwanda, Marshall
Sam Hanawalt, Bonita, Boise State
Gabby Hinojosa, Citrus Valley, CS Northridge
Devyn Kelsey, Los Osos, Arizona State
Brooke Kortekaas, Alta Loma, Idaho State
Nicole Leggio, St. Lucy’s Pepperdine
Emily Lemus, Etiwanda, Hawaii Pacific
Sandy Lule, Rancho Cucamonga, Soka University
Kaylee Mackenzie, Chino Hills, Metro State
Hannah McKinney, Los Osos, Nebraska-Lincoln
Jessica Miclat, Chino Hills, UC Irvine
Sammy O’Connor, St. Lucy’s UC Irvine
Lauren Perry, Rancho Cucamonga, Cal State San Marcos
Sydney Robinson, Ontario Christian, The Master’s
Ayana Robles, Rancho Cucamonga, Seattle University
Olivia Seddon, Chino Hills, Northern Colorado
Jazmin Smith, Los Osos, CS Los Angeles
Christine Van den Berg, Colony, Grand View
Madison Walker, St. Lucy’s, St. Martin’s

BOYS SOCCER
Jonathan Garcia, Redlands East Valley, Hawaii-Hilo
Brian Robinson, Ontario Christian, CS Dominguez Hills

BOYS WATER POLO
Luke Andres, Los Oso, Air Force
Matt Maier, Damien, USC

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Etiwanda’s Kamari Pleasant chooses Washington

This time the decision is final – or so says Etiwanda safety Kamari Pleasant.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder has made  a verbal commitment to the University of Washington, just a few days after decommitting from Arizona State.

“I really think this is the best situation for me

,” he said. “I am relieved to have the decision behind me now.”

Pleasant had eight offers from which to choose when he made his decision the first time, only to get the feeling later on that he wasn’t as high on Arizona State’s radar as he was on them.

His final decision came down to Washington, USC and Oregon. Ironically his earliest memories were of the other schools. He grew up liking Oregon but always liked Reggie Bush and his father was a big USC and Reggie Bush fan.

“It will be fun playing against them,” he said.

Pleasant was one of the more versatile players in the area. He got drew most of the interest from major colleges on the defensive side of the ball but also saw time at running back and wide receiver.

 

 

 

 

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